All Good Things Creatives LLC

All Good Things Creatives LLC Photography and photo editing for end use. Shoot me a message!

30 years experience in graphic design - logos, custom graphics, packaging, printed items, clothing, vehicles, signs, and the web - and likely anything else you need.

12/10/2025

Tech tip:

What's a VPN and Why Should You Care?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and the internet—like a private tunnel for your data. It also masks your IP address, making your online activity essentially anonymous.

Use a VPN when:
✓ Connected to public WiFi (coffee shops, airports, hotels)
✓ Accessing sensitive information remotely
✓ Traveling or working from different locations
✓ You want to keep your browsing private

Why it matters: Public networks are easy targets for hackers. Without a VPN, your IP address is visible, allowing others to track your location and online activity. Even your own Internet Service Provider (ISP) can see and log everything you do online. A VPN protects your passwords, financial data, personal information—and keeps your browsing history private from everyone, including your ISP.

What about your phone? YES! Your phone needs VPN protection, too—maybe even more than your computer. We use our phones everywhere, often on public WiFi without thinking twice. Most VPN services have mobile apps that work seamlessly in the background.

Getting started is simple: Choose a reputable VPN service (like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark), install their app on ALL your devices, and toggle it on. That's it! Most VPN providers allow for the service on multiple devices, so check on that while you're deciding.

Your digital security is worth a few clicks. Stay safe out there! 🔒

Quick Note: Some websites (like streaming services or banking sites) may block VPN connections for security reasons. If you encounter access issues on a trusted site, simply turn off your VPN temporarily, complete your task, and turn it back on. This is normal and doesn't mean your VPN isn't working—it just means that site has chosen to restrict VPN traffic.

07/09/2025

Quick tip for fellow business owners! 💡

I've noticed some confusion about logos and graphics from print-on-demand sites, so I wanted to share something that might help save you headaches down the road.

When you create business cards or marketing materials on sites like Vista Print, those beautiful graphics you can choose from? They're typically stock images that come with very specific licensing. You can use them on the materials you order through that site, but they're not actually your logo to use elsewhere.

Think of it like renting vs. owning - you can use the graphic for that specific purpose, but you can't take it with you to use on your website, social media, or other marketing materials.

If you're looking to build a consistent brand identity that you can use across all your marketing (which I totally recommend!), consider investing in custom design work or purchasing properly licensed graphics that give you full usage rights.

This isn't meant to discourage anyone - just want to help fellow entrepreneurs avoid potential legal issues and build brands they truly own!

Happy to chat more about this if anyone has questions. 😊

Logos
01/17/2025

Logos

Design for print
01/17/2025

Design for print

Package and label design for Oregon Yerba Mate'
01/17/2025

Package and label design for Oregon Yerba Mate'

10/08/2023

One of my biggest peeves when it comes to companies' use of their logos is stretching or condensing parts of it to fit a space, rather than leaving some white space around it. You would never see Pepsi, Nike, Dairy Queen, or the like, distort their logo for any reason. It may be put on something that makes it look a little different such as a hot air balloon or the contoured hood of a race car, but it is always at proper constrained proportions.

If you have a logo and branding, please don't stretch it, or shrink it, or distort it to fit an area. It is okay to have it be what it is and leave space around it. White space is not an enemy. It can be used to complement and enhance graphics. From an advertising standpoint, distorting the logo only shows a lack of respect for the brand. If you can't respect your own brand, how could you expect your client to? It's subliminal messaging you do NOT want your prospective client or customer to receive. Think about it.

06/07/2020

Creating a logo is something that people often attempt on their own and as a designer, I really do think that's great when they take initiative to be creative and brand themselves. However, I also know enough to use the proper programs which is often not the case when receiving artwork from someone. If you try to create a logo, please don't do so in a raster-based program like Photoshop. Logos are meant to be used in multiple formats and need to be resizeable. If you try to create a logo, use a vector-based program like Illustrator. Otherwise, you may be creating more trouble than it's worth! :)

A note - placing a non-vector graphic in Illustrator and saving it does not a vector make! And, online programs or those included with computer operating systems often do NOT give the option to export as a vector. Before putting all the work in, check the export options. Make sure it allows exporting as a vector - not an AI or PDF, but a vector. If it is raster-based, you can still save it as multiple types but it doesn't make it a vector.

05/13/2019

Ran a couple errands after a client appointment this morning. Sitting at a stoplight next to the large pipe and open canal water, I watched a mallard duck. At first, he was on the rocks preening and then hopped into the swirling water. He contently floated around, bobbing in the swirling circles with the rough water. Later I was watching a small flock of blackbirds trying to find a sturdy stem on some sagebrush and toolies. It took a couple minutes but eventually, they all found some steady roosts. No cable necessary for the local nature channel. :) Happy Monday, everyone!

I love what I get to do! Here is a project I just completed. They wanted a re-design to update the feel of the catalog. ...
04/22/2019

I love what I get to do!

Here is a project I just completed. They wanted a re-design to update the feel of the catalog. I created the background graphics for the covers and inside template from scratch. And now I get to create an interactive catalog allowing the end user to easily navigate from page to page from the table of contents and the individual pages. Love, love, love my job! :)

The box I created for Oregon Yerba Maté's new single-serve cups. Available on Amazon, by the way! :)
01/16/2019

The box I created for Oregon Yerba Maté's new single-serve cups. Available on Amazon, by the way! :)

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97756

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(541) 610-6578

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